If you’re looking for me in August, there’s a good chance you’ll find me beside our highbush blueberry hedge, picking a big bowl of juicy berries. Once relegated to an out-of-the-way spot near the vegetable garden, fruiting perennial shrubs like highbush blueberries are now being recognized for their ornamental value, and being invited to take centre stage in gardens and … [Read more...] about Blueberry bonanza
Food to grow
Vertical vegetables save space
I’m always searching for vegetable crops that go above and beyond normal expectations. I want plants that will produce a generous harvest, yet not take up too much precious garden space. I also want them to be disease and insect resistant, as well as relatively low maintenance. These might seem like unreasonable demands, but my vertical vegetable crops deliver all of this and … [Read more...] about Vertical vegetables save space
How to preserve herbs
When the garden is dormant and the weather grim, using herbs you’ve harvested and preserved is a good way to keep the memory of summer alive. There are a number of ways to store herbs for the winter, and a few things to keep in mind as you do it. Harvest herbs when they’re in their prime and on dry days. Ideally, pick them in the morning after the dew has dried but before … [Read more...] about How to preserve herbs
Tasting notes from Stokes trial gardens 2016
Many of us are still enjoying the vegetables that we’ve grown and harvested this summer, but plant growers and retailers are busy deciding what new varieties to offer in spring 2o17. Stokes Seeds, a 130-year-old Canadian family business, provides the seed for vegetables grown by Martin Farms Ltd. for Loblaw Companies stores and its President's Choice Gigantico lineup of plants. … [Read more...] about Tasting notes from Stokes trial gardens 2016
Harvest times for vegetables
August is prime time for harvesting homegrown vegetables. Of course, timing depends on the variety, when it was planted, weather conditions and other factors, but generally vegetable gardeners are reaping the benefits of their good planning and ongoing care at this time of year. The Home Garden Seed Association offers these tips on how to know when to harvest vegetables at the … [Read more...] about Harvest times for vegetables
